Operating mechanism for door latches



Feb; 21, 1928. 1,659,589

H. BROQMHALL OPERATING MECHANISM FOR DOOR LATCHES Filed April 14. 192%,; Z

. Patented Feb. 21, 1928..

v UNITED STATES P'ATENT OFFICE.

. HARLEY nRooMHALL, or SHELBY, oHIo, ASSIGNOR ro THE SHELBY METAL r301)- UOTS comrANY, orsHnLBY, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF'OHIO.

' ornnarnvo MECHANISM FOR noon narcniis.

, Application,filed April" 14, 1926. Serial No. 101,901.

This invention relates to improvements in an operating mechanism for a door latch.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a latch. that can be operated ineither direction from its normal yieldingly locked position and by means of the use of one expansible coil spring .returned to its normal is released.

Another object of the present invention is mechanism retracted from its normal posi tion by the operation of the lever in both to provide a U-shaped cam i'nember which is adapted to contact with a sliding latch member and is adapted to press against the sliding latch under tension of a coil spring to open a door, the latch being operable in either direction from both sides of the latch body by manipulation of a lever, or a door knob.

Another object is to provide means on the U-shaped cam member to connect it to a door knob shaft for actuation of the latch mechanism and by means of the connection provide means to shorten the length of the shaft required for the purpose intended.

Another object is to form a sliding latch member with a portion thereof bent at right angles to the body portion to contact with or provide an abutment for a coil spring and support one end of .a coil spring pin suport. A p Another object of the invention is to construct a latch mechanism and its associated parts of pressed sheet metal so as to provide a latch mechanism of light weight and comparative maximum strength, free from the defects incident to casting the parts and also to providesurfaces that admit of making a latch mechanism of smooth finish interiorly and exteriorly.

A further object is to hold and maintain the latch and its associated mechanism in operating cover plate. i y

Another object is to provide unit means for exerting a pressure on the latch mech V anism. t

These and other objects areattained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the latch mechanism assembled in the body.

Figure 2 isa similar View, the latching mechanismbeing omitted.

Figure 3 is an end view of Figure 1.

position when the lever cam member.

positions without the useof a Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of Figure 1 on the linel-l. i a

Figure 5 is an elevation of the sliding latch member. I

Figure 6 is a side view of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an elevation of the U-shaped cam member. a y

Figure 8 is a top view of the U-shaped Figure 9 is an elevation showing the latch sheet metal parts to attain the objects set forth, a hollow body is pressed from sheet metal or the like and comprises a body portion 1, upstanding side portions 2--2 (preferably rectangular in form) and extending flanged portions 3-3 are formed thereon, and provided with apertures 4: to receive suitable screwsor the like-to fasten the body portion to a door or the like. An aperture 3 is provided in the bodyportion 1 and is surrounded by an integral rib 5.

A slot 6 preferably formed square is rovided in one of the sides 2 as shown in igure 4. A sliding latch member 7 is providedmade of sheet metal or the like, and has integral portions 8 and 9 turned up at right angles to the body portion 7. The latch member 7 is alsoprovided with longitudinal slot 7 which allows the latch mem- The latch 10 is yieldingly held in locked position as follows p One end of a pin 11 is supported in an aperture provided in the side 2 of the body and its opposite end is supported in an aperture provided in the upturned portion 8' of the sliding member.

The expansible spring 12 is supported on a pin 11 having a collar 11. One end of the spring presses under tension against the side portion 2 of the upturned portion 8 of the sliding memthe body and its opposite end presses against ber forcing the latch to its normal yieldingly.

locked position as shown in Figure'l. A strike B is used 1n association wlth the latch provided with an elongated aperture 14- formed in one of its members and a square aperture 15 in the other spaced apart member as shown in Figures 7 and 8. A shaft 16 is provided with a collar lti'formed in contact with the body portion of the body. A portionlS forms a'journal to fit'the aperture 3 formed in the bodyportion 1 of the body and the en'd19is formed to fit the aperture l lformed in the U-shaped cam member to provide means for. imparting movement thereto. The lever 20, or the shaft 21 can be operated in eit'herdirection. To hold'the shaft, sliding latch member and U-shaped cam member in assembled position, the surplus stock of the end of the leverisri'veted over a portion of the cam member as shown at 22in Figure l.

The lever 20 is constructed of a sheet metal member 23which' is encased by a sheet metal cover 2 which is beaded around the member 23 to fasten and hold same in close contact with the part 23. The sheet metal memb'er23 is riveted to the shaft 16 at its free end or'otherwise fastened thereto, in any conventional manner.

When the parts are assembled as described and the-lever 20 is manipulated in either direction the ends of the cams 25'or 26 are forced in contact with the upturned portion 8 of the sliding latch member imparting movement to the sliding member 7 thereby retracting thelatch 10 on a plane with or slightly under the plane ofthe side 2 permitting the doorto be opened. When the lever 20is released the tension of the spring 12 forcesthe sliding latch member to the endof its outward position shown in Figures 1 and 2, thereby yieldingly locking the door with theaid of the conventional strike or the like as shown at B. The same movementof the latch member and its associated mechanism is obtained, when the U-shaped cam member'is actuated the shaft 21, upon which an'ordinary knob (not shown) is mountedand secured' I In Figure 9 attention is called 'to the fact that the lever 20 is shown moved in oppo' site directions. Movement of the lever 20 in either direction retracts the latch or positions same in yielding. unlocked position as shown by the-dotted lines on said figure. When the lever 20 is released from the grasp of the operator the latch is immediately returned to its yielding locked position as shown in full lines by the expansible spring 12.

Itwill be observed that all'of the parts,

except the shaft 21 arexmade'of polished sheet metal or the like and pressed to form so that each and all of the parts have smooth surfaces interiorly and exteriorly,

providing means of finishing the parts smoothly wnen compared with ordinary rough surfaces of castings or the like;

It will also he observed that in attaching the shaft 21 to the U-shaped cam member lnstead of to the knob or. member, which ordinarily passes through the body andmto the knob or lever, that the length of' the standing rear wall, means carrier by the casing and bearing against said wall to normally project the latch in operative position, an operating elementrotatably mounted inthe casing and projecting through a slot in the latch member, a cam member secured to said operating member and includ ing a U-shaped sectiomthe innerportion'of' which 1s secured to the operatlng member" and presents an edge to bear against the upstanding rear wall of the latch member to operate said member, the outerportion of imposed spaced relation to the inner portion and providing a means for connecting a second operating member thereto for the op:

eration of the latch member.

2. In a latch mechanism formed of sheet metal, a casin a sliding bolt having'portions thereof bent at right angles to the body portion, a combined'cam and-connecting member bent substantially U-shaped the cam member being arranged in'supenand which provides means for-connecting a shaft to the cam portion and another "shaft to the connecting member thereofinspaced apart'relation to each other, wherebymeans are provided to nnpart movement: to the cam and bolt in either direction and' from both sidesof the casing as described' and set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature;

HARLEY BROOMHALL. 

